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Maybe this is part of your problem, you think sport is defined as gorillas jumping on each other, whilst the rest of the world likes to watch competitive athletes.
Personally I think its a shame that America only participates seriously in American only sports, you have to admit that "The world series" is one of the biggest sports jokes on this planet.
The Rugby World Cup would benefit greatly from a serious/competitive yank side , and I'm sure some of those steroid addicted baseball players could manage to play cricket if only they could fool the drugs tests
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Shark:
Good catch, I don't watch it (soccer). Apparently I was talking about queers in long shorts.Comment -
Again, tell me how soccer beats real football; I just don't get it. Never will.Comment -
It all depends on how u look at it .... for those who were brought up watching Football *soccer* it runs in ur blood veins, you understand the game to the point where u can make a proper argument ... for those who were brought up watching US football its the same thing .. different passions ... thats about it ..Comment -
I shouldn't say I don't watch it: every 4 years I do via the Olympics. Just not my cup of tea as we say on this side of the pond. Again, a far cry from football--right JJ?
PS This thread is meant with you in mind, JJ. Some queer from the UK going to upstage you. Expected more from you.Comment -
Once in a rare while I will bet a soccer match if I am in the hole big or make a spread bet but never watch it, it is a veru popular game except in America.
Jimmy is right that if you watch soccer in America you can get labeled as a switch hitter.Comment -
That's more like it. US and Canadian Football has no comparison.Comment -
Rugby is better.That's more like it. US and Canadian Football has no comparison.Comment -
Jamie_UK is the winner in this competition. Next round: Jamie_UK v. Ganchrow.
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Great thread with a lot of potential HH. I'm still hoping JJ lands the knockout punch here...
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I see your point, Shark. Hope I didn't piss off too many soccer ("football") fans. Truth is any sport can be fascinating if you have a bet riding on it. Used to hate Nascar until I started betting on drivers to win or top 5. Now I'm glued to the set for the last 10-15 laps. To each his own.
PS What's better: Cold American beer in a Sports Bar or a warm pint in an English Pub (Brits still like their brew room temp?)Comment -
US football played only in America, with the Superbowl champions being labelled as "World Champions"
Baseball played only in America with champions of the "World Series" being labelled "World champions"
I'd be prepared to guess that the Stanley Cup holders are also labelled World Champions.
The arrogance of it all. USA does not rule the world.
Apologies to Canadians.Comment -
Thats what Im saying ... in order to love a sport you need to understand the reasons behind it ... its a matter of accepting the game for what it is and what it represents ... SALUD!!I see your point, Shark. Hope I didn't piss off too many soccer ("football") fans. Truth is any sport can be fascinating if you have a bet riding on it. Used to hate Nascar until I started betting on drivers to win or top 5. Now I'm glued to the set for the last 10-15 laps. To each his own.
PS What's better: Cold American beer in a Sports Bar or a warm pint in an English Pub (Brits still like their brew room temp?)
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As citizen of country that won Euro soccer championship I must confirm, that american football is much more interesting game. Even when I still do not know all rules of US foot, I am amazed by the game and all possibilities that the game offers. I like very much to bet on the game, esp. live, since it really needs to think about different scenarios. It is strange that it is soccer, most boring sport, which dominates over the world. I have no explanation.Comment -
Depends. If I'm just looking for something on the light side to wash down a sandwich at lunch, then a cold Lone Star or Shiner Bock will do the trick. But sipping socially, I'd prefer a good full ale, regardless of where it's brewed. I wouldn't call the pints in the UK 'warm' at all, just not as ice cold as American lager is served. Boddington's, the cream of Manchester, ranks highest on my list.Comment -
Jamie is a mother****ing idiot who comes on here solely to stir up shit. He's also a racist and an extreme xenophobe to boot. He may try to pretend that he represents the whole of England, but trust me he's as miserable there as he is anywhere else. The best trick might be to try and ignore him in the future. Either that or let him finish his duel with Willie Bee or step up to take on Ganch (hint hint HH)...
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LOVE A NICE GUINESS ME SELF. yeah I know its from Dublin.Comment -
Come on guys not one good point on EITHER side...
The fact the world plays soccer as a whole and not football does not make it better... When the world is at war it didn't make it right because the whole world was doing it... This is soccer people's best point and it doesn't say anything about the sport...
I like American Football because, as lucas said, the possiblities are endless... It's like a live game of chess.. The coaches are the players and the chess pieces are the players... They program their pieces and put them in what they think might be the right places for each play... It's a chess match between the two coaches much less the players...
Take a QB just as ONE example... He has to remember and be in charge of a whole offensive system.. Our playbook at the HIGH SCHOOL I coached at was THICK so I can't imagine what the pros have... He has to sit in the pocket with the sound of pads poppin' and men growling on their way to hit you as hard as they can if you don't throw the ball... In all that maddness the QB has to read a Defense pre snap and during the play... The timing involved in amazing... As a former kicker I can tell you the sound of pads poppin' around you when you have to concentrate is a mother....
My theory is the world plays it because it's simple enough for them to understand... I have ask people that play soccer if they call plays and read defenses like American Football and they said "no it's very basic and their are just a few plays"...
American Football is the perfect combination of chess and modern day gladiators...
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i agree with the above and would also like to point out that in american football, the amount of time left in the game and the score at that point greatly changes what a team will do on the field. wheras, in soccer, regardless of the score a team is pretty much doing the same thing all game. someone mentioned that americans would like to see the soccer goals made larger and i agree with this . the soccer goals are too easily guarded by todays goalies, a larger goal could create more interest in goalie shut-outs, and an interest in goalies and their stats, just as you see in hockey.Comment -
it dont make sense when cleveland play detroit for the final of baseball and they call it the world series,,,,i dont get itComment -
I consider soccer and rugby to be superior sports in many ways to anything we have to offer here (possible exception for ice hockey). Having grown up with American football and baseball, however, I still enjoy them quite a bit, but I'm afraid the Europeans have some good arguments against them.
The one thing that bugs me about soccer is all the silly rolling around in mortal agony, being carried off in a stretcher, etc. only to return in a minute as if nothing happened. Do you guys in countries where soccer is big find this ridiculous as well, or is it just me?
It seems like unsportsmanlike behavior to constantly fake injuries.Comment -
If you are talking about the argument that it's better because most of the world plays it that is NO argument... The question is NOT what is more popular... If something is more popular this does NOT make it better...
Are you serious..??? That's hilarious!!! How gay for the sport but I found it funny...
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No, I don't agree that more popular equals better. I do think that a game of soccer or rugby has more action than most American football or baseball games. This sounds ridiculous to most Americans who equate action with scoring, but the vast majority of an American football game is spent waiting between plays.Comment -
This should indicate the nature of the game...
It's like when people make the argument that hockey is as rough as football... The fact that football players can NOT play 82 games a year playing OFFENSE AND DEFENSE should tell you football is much rougher... Just the thought of that is hard to imagine...
This is the same case and point... It's not really possible unless you undergo gene therapy to NOT take breaks in the middle of downs... You also must NOT understand how complexed it truely is... A lot of that time is taken up by coaches deciding on the play to call... I know enough about soccer to know that the x's and o's are pre historic compared to Amercian Football... I can't imagine rugby is much closer... The game is A LOT ....A LOOOOOT more complicated then the average fan is aware of....
Like I said the main reason why to counter your point is what I have said above... Football is the perfect combination of chess and gladiators.. Rugby is just gladiators...
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Have to agree with a lot of what Shams just said about American football. Also have to think that at some point in this thread, didn't someone suggest we were comparing apples to oranges? What the majority of the world calls football and what American call football are games, sports, and that is where the similarites end, both in the physical skill sets and the mental skill sets involved.Comment -
To me I probably wouldnt go out of my way to hang in this thread. After all, everyone knows american football is so far above kicking a spotted ball around.
But no reason to send this thread south.Comment -
Wow, so many misconceptions here.
First off, I love both football and soccer. Can't compare the two of them. Different genres of sports. I know alot of North Americans don't enjoy soccer, and that's fine with me. However, don't go around saying you don't need skill to play soccer. Are you telling me, say, the top MLS team could beat Manchester United or Arsenal? Get real. Has anyone watched Cristiano Ronaldo play? If not, watch his play and then tell me that's not skill.
And yes, there is strategy involved by the coach on a soccer team. Won't call it like chess, but there is strategy. A soccer coach has to decide what formation to use, what players to start, how best to counter the other teams formation, etc... Another thing people are wrong about with regards to soccer is the pysical aspect of it. Most people think it's a "gentle" sport. That's farther from the truth. I would bet that there were more injuries in the EPL this weekend as there was in the NFL. I'm not saying soccer is rough and tumble like football, but it is for sure rough. Play a game of soccer for 90 minutes, and tell me if your shins don't hurt.
Anyways, to each his own. I love almost every sport, (save car racing, that takes the cake for most boring sport ever) and enjoy watching either soccer or football. But don't go saying soccer is a "fag" sport. Or that soccer doesn't require skill and is a place for failed athletes. That's just ludicrous.
EDIT: Another thing I wanted to add is that to play soccer professionally, you have to extremely physically fit. No breaks in soccer, apart from half time, so you are basically going 45 minutes non stop. Obviously, you have to be physically fit, but I doubt alot of football players would have enough stamina to go all out for 45 minutes at a time, no breaks.Comment -
Fully agree, but:
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Depends on your definition of injury. If you call fake dives injuries, then perhaps, otherwise there isn't a chance in hell.I would bet that there were more injuries in the EPL this weekend as there was in the NFL.Comment -
Soccer takes far greater skill than football. And to call this a sport for non-athletes... I invite any American to run around for ninety minutes without timeouts and just one break. And maintain your level of skill.
Steve Nash is a great soccer player. He attributes his basketball skill to the fact that, after mastering the ball with his feet, the use of hands makes everything very easy.
I've played almost all sports, and soccer is my favorite in terms of participation. Watching it is a different matter. I only enjoy watching games that are played at the highest level. There you get your money's worth. In football the difference between average and top level is far less clear, which probably results in a greater number of interesting matches.
As far as betting. You wouldn't believe the sense of relaxation a single goal lead in soccer can bring about. It feels like three touchdowns.Comment
as well
